S03. Media and Control

In viewing Timecode we were given different options. With four screens it's hard to focus on all of them at all times, and each viewer's experience in watching Timecode is different. It's impossible to map your experience once you watch it so each view will differ from your past ones. You almost recreate the story the same way as Patchwork Girl. It becomes writerly text that allows you to interpret concrete material provided by the producer.

Timecode reminded me of www.inbflat.net. Here the main focus is music. The creator provides you with 20 videos of people singing or playing an instrument in Bb major for 1-2 minutes. You can play the videos simultaneously. You can choose when to start each video and which to start, and you can adjust the mix with the individual volume sliders. Like Timecode the creator provides you with concrete material, but unlike Timecode, you have more control over what you watch. However, more factors come into effect because this is online. Each experience will be different not only thanks to your own decisions, but also thanks to the speed of your internet connection or the speed of your fingers selecting each video.

Wark's article also reminded me of how news shows also present you with different viewing options. If you watch the news you are given the option of viewing the center of the screen, which has a main story with an anchor or to view the sides of the screen, which have constant information being streamed. Like Timecode, it is impossible to keep track of everything happening. However, I believe that the way the media provides the news is less constructive. When you try to get one set of information, another is distracting you. It is as if the media doesn't want you to be fully aware of everything that is going on.